Baseball training devices, systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A system and methods for training an athlete to improve performance and swinging a baseball bat includes using several devices, looting a rolling force training bat, a swinging force training bat, variable weight training bat, a shoulder posture training device, a swinging posture training device and a hamstring tension device. The various training devices may be used alone or in combination with others to identify and correct at athletes posture, stamps and motion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/939,707 filed on Feb. 13, 2014, the contents of which are herebyincorporated in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGAPPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OFTHE MATERIAL

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Endeavor

The present invention relates to systems and methods for trainingathletes. More particularly, the invention relates to devices, systemsand methods to assist in improving strength, flexibility and endurancefor baseball.

2. Background Information

Many devices and techniques have been developed to improve athleticperformance of baseball players. Bat swing practice means of variouskinds have been conventionally proposed and used. For example, there isknown a bat swing practice means in which a weight having apredetermined weight value is slidably placed on a bat-shape shaft bodyto be swung.

In the past, a variety of exercise or warm-up devices have been providedfor use by baseball players. Persons who play baseball, softball, andsimilar sports, often use various devices and methods to improve theirbatting skills. For example, players may utilize a plurality of bats, asingle bat with weighted collars or clamps and the like attachedthereto, permanently weighted bats (e.g. hollowed out bats with solid orflowable weight materials included therewithin), or a bat with attachedvanes or the like to effect aerodynamic drag. Such devices and methodsare employed to facilitate general warming-up, stretching muscles, anddeveloping the muscles used for batting, as well as to improve aplayer's bat speed, reaction skill, bat control, and the like. Swinginga plurality of bats can be awkward, and there is a limit as to how manybats a person can swing safely and/or comfortably.

Unlike power hitting, in which a bat is swung at a ball with immediateacceleration for high speed so as to gain maximum momentum and greatimpact upon contact with a pitched ball, contact hitting requires a morecontrolled swing in which the bat is drawn more slowly toward contactwith the ball, with minimal acceleration, and the wrists of the batterare turned just prior to making contact with the ball so as quickly toaccelerate, or “snap”, the bat for accurate placement of the hit ball.While many training devices have been proposed for increasingproficiency in power hitting, these devices are not suited to learningthe controlled swing necessary in contact hitting, and especially inconnection with hitting in soft ball play.

Further, none of these existing devices assist an athlete and/or trainerin identifying problems with an athletes bat swing such as, for example,the amount of twisting done to the bat during a swing, or whether awrist is actuated at the proper time and to the proper extent tooptimize performance.

Further, none of the existing devices assist an athlete in learning tonaturally assume proper stance and posture, or to maintain proper stanceand posture while simultaneously minimizing negative twisting, orrolling of the bat during a swing.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide means by which andathlete and trainer may isolate and identify many distinct aspects of anathlete's posture, stance and kinetics as they relate to baseballperformance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is a pluralityof devices, methods and a system for training an athlete to improveperformance playing baseball and other sports.

In greater detail, the present invention includes a rolling forcetraining bat, a swing force training bat, variable weight training batshaving sliding handles, swing tension training device, a wrist tensiontraining device, a stance training device, a shoulder stance trainingdevice and a hamstring tension training device, all of which may be usedsuccessively and/or in combination with each other.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes modified baseballsfor use in training athletes and improving their athletic abilities. Inanother embodiment, an alternative training bat may be used to improveand athletes baseball or other swing. In another embodiment, a stancetraining bar may assist an athlete in improving a baseball swing orswing of another sports item.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemand method for utilizing a plurality of training devices to improveathletic performance.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the attached specification andappended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the moreimportant features of the invention in order that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in orderthat the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rolling force training bat in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a training bat in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a swing force training bat in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a swing force training bat in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a variable weight training bat inaccordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a variable weight training bat inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a variable weight training bat inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a variable weight training that inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an environmental view of a resistance bat swing trainingdevice in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 10 is another environmental view of a resistance bat swing trainingdevice in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an environmental view of a wrist tension training device inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 12 is an environmental view of a wrist tension training device inuse combined with a rolling force training bat in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 13 is an environmental view of a resistance tension stance trainingdevice in use combined with a rolling force training bat in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 14 is an environmental view of a shoulder stance training device inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 15 is an environmental view of a hamstring tension training devicein accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of atraining bat in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a side view of a training ball in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a training ballin accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a side view of a stance training bar in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 20 is an environmental view of a stance training bar being used byan athlete in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and to the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a rolling force training bat 10 in accordance with theprinciples of the invention. The training bat 10 has a handle 12 whichan athlete may grasp. Training bat 10 may also include a Rod 16 held inplace by bracket 18. Rod 16 may be substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of training that 10. Rod 16 may include a stop 22.Shuttle 20 may be fitted about Rod 16 and capable of freely slidingalong the length of Rod 16 from bracket 18 to stop 22. In thisembodiment, Rod 16 may be substantially cylindrical and shuttle 20 mayalso be substantially cylindrical. Optionally, the Rod 16 may have adifferent geometric configuration. For example, Rod 16 may have asquare, rectangular, hexagonal or other cross-sectional shape. Shuttle20 may have an interior circumference conforming to the shape of the Rod16. Shuttle 20 may be freely. Slidable along the length of Rod 16.Optionally, shuttle 20 and Rod 16 may be modified to provide resistanceto the sliding of shuttle 20 along Rod 16. Optionally, such resistancemay be adjustable. For example, shuttle 20 may fit snugly about Rod 16such that a predetermined amount of force may be required for shuttle 22verse the length of Rod 16.

During training, when an athlete swings bat 10, the movement of shuttle20 along Rod 16 may serve to indicate the degree to which the athleterolls the bat 10 during the swing. The inventor has determined thatinadvertence or unwanted rolling of the bat may negatively alter thedirection and speed of a ball contacted by the bat 10 during a swing.Thus, an athlete may use training bat 10 to identify the amount ofrolling force he or she applies to a bat when swinging. By adjustingthis role, an athlete may improve his or her performance.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the rolling force training bat 10. Asmay be seen, the rolling force bat 10 is a typical baseball bat that hasbeen modified by retrofitting a bracket 18, Rod 16, stop 22 and shuttle22. It about halfway along the length of the bat. It may be desirable toplace bracket 18 and Rod 16 at different points along the length of thebat. It may also be desirable to adjust the angle at which Rod 16protrudes. That is, it may be desirable for the Rod 16 to be placed atan angle other than 90°. Any suitable materials may be used to form thecomponents including bracket 18, Rod 16, shuttle 20 and stop 22. Thesecomponents may be retrofitted to an existing bat. Optionally, a rollingforce training bat may be formed with a Rod 16. Integral to a unitarybody comprising the bat and the Rod. Optionally, stop 22 may also be anintegral part of a unitary body.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a swing force training bat 28 in accordance withprinciples of the invention. Swing force training bat 28 may becomprised of a Rod 30 and a handle 32. Training balls 34 may be of atoroidal design having a hole through their middle. Training balls 34may be constructed from tennis balls that it had opposing sides, cutaway.

During training, and athlete may place a training ball 34 onto Rod 30and slide it down to the top of the handle 32. Will when the athleteswings, training ball 34 will fly off the bat due to centrifugal force.The direction, distance and speed of the training ball 34 may allow anathlete and trainer to identify whether the athlete is swinging a bat inthe proper manner. As other baseball trainers have noted, the “flick ofthe wrist” during the swing of a bat may be very important to theefficacy of an athlete in baseball. In FIG. 4, three Training balls 34have been placed upon Rod 30. It may be desirable to load more than onetraining ball 34 onto a training bat 28 during training. However,generally a single training ball may be used to provide much informationregarding the athletes proper form.

FIG. 5 shows an adjustable weight training bat 40 in accordance with theprinciples of the invention. Training bat 40 may be comprised of a beam42 having a handle 44 and a weight 46. Beam 42 may be substantiallycylindrical with an outwardly tapered, conical head 43. An interiorthreaded rod 48 may extend upward from the conical head 43. A weight 46may have a threaded for corresponding to the threaded Rod 48 to allowweight 46 to attached to beam 42. Optionally, additional weights, suchas youth weight 50 and adult weight 52 may be used interchangeably withweight 46 to adjust the weight of the training bat 40.

Handle 44 of adjustable weight training bat 40 may be freely. Slidablealong the length of beam 42, as shown by directional arrow 54. Byallowing the handle 44 to slide along beam 42, and athlete may betteridentify whether or not he or she is holding the bat in the propermanner, and whether he or she is flicking his or her wrist at the propertime.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of an adjustable weight trainingbat 60 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Adjustableweight training bat 60 may be comprised of a metal rod 62. A handle 68may be placed upon Rod 62 and be slidable thereon. A detachable top 66may be placed at a desired point along the length of the Rod 62 while adetachable weight 64 may be placed above the detachable top 66 and onthe end of Rod 62. Optionally, detachable weight 64 may come in avariety of different ways. Similarly, detachable top 66 may calm andalternate configurations of different size.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of an adjustable weight trainingbat 70 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Adjustableweight training bat 70 may be comprised of a Rod 76 having a conical top78. An adjustable weight 80 may be removably attached to the conical top78. Handle 72 may be slidable along the Rod 76.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an adjustable weight trainingbat 90 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Training bat90 is substantially similar to training bat 70 of FIG. 7. That 90 may becomprised of a metal rod 92, a detachable top 94 and one or moredetachable weight 98. Handle 96 may slide along the length of the Rod 92from one end to the detachable top 94. In this embodiment, Rod 92 ismetal. However, other materials may be used, such as for example,plastic, carbon fiber, alloys, would, and the like.

FIG. 9 shows a resistance bat swing training device 100 being used by anathlete 101. Resistance bat swing training device 100 includes a handle102 that may be substantially similar to a handle on an average baseballbat. Handle 102 may be connected to a poll 104 by a pivot joint 106. Thedistal end of post 104 may be attached to a stationary anchoringstructure by means of a biasing mechanism, such as for example a springor bungee cord.

FIG. 10 shows the resistance bat swing training device 100 being used byan athlete 101 from a different perspective. Biasing mechanism 108 maybe seen here attached to the distal end of pole 104. An athlete 101 maygrasp the handle 102 and mimic the swinging of a baseball bat. As theathlete 101 swings, the biasing mechanism 108 provides resistance. Inthis embodiment, biasing mechanism 108 is a spring.

FIG. 11 shows a wrist tension training device 111. Wrist tensiontraining device 111 includes a strap 116 that is fitted about the hand,and arm strapped 114 about the upper arm and a biasing cord 118. Thebiasing cord 118. Causes of the hand to be pulled inward. An athletewearing a wrist tension training device 111 last contracts is extensormuscles on the outer side of his or her forearms in order to pull hishands straight. An athlete may wear a wrist tension training device 111while practicing swinging a baseball bat. This may allow an athlete tostrengthen the muscles needed to properly hold and swing a baseball bat.

FIG. 12 shows a wrist tension training device 111 used in conjunctionwith a rolling force training bat 10. By combining these 2 devices, andathlete may train his body to hold and swing a bat properly while alsomonitoring the amount of rolling force he or she applies to a bat. Theplurality of different training devices in the presence this closure areintended to be used both independently and in combination to improveathletes overall performance.

FIG. 13 shows a resistance tension stance training device 130. Trainingdevice 130 includes a strap 132 that is fitted about the lower torso ofathlete and has a biasing mechanism 134 extending from the lateral sideand may be attached to an anchoring structure or optionally held by atrainer. An athlete may position his feet. In a stance appropriate for abatter in a baseball game. As the athlete practices a swing, he or shemay twist his or her body. As the swing is followed through. The stancetraining device 130 may be used to strengthen and tone the musclesneeded for proper form and stance in baseball.

FIG. 14 shows a shoulder stance training device 150. Shoulder stancetraining device 150 may include to shoulder straps 152 fitted about theshoulder joint and connected by one or more chest straps 154. Optionallyshoulder stance training device 150 may include one or more back straps,not shown, connecting the chest straps across the back of the athlete.This device may assist in training the athlete to maintain properposture when swinging a bat. As may be seen, the shoulder stancetraining device 150 may be easily used in conjunction with a rollingforce training bat 10.

FIG. 15 shows a hamstring tension training device 160. The hamstringtension training device 160 includes a belt 164 that may be loopedaround and athletes torso. Device 160 may also include a foot platform162 that may be substantially rigid and planar. The center of platform162 may be attached to belt 164 by a biasing mechanism 166 that mayinclude a spring, bungee cord or the like. When an athlete places thebelt 164 about his or her torso and fully extends his legs while placinghis feet on platform 162, the biasing mechanism 166 may stretch thehamstring and back muscles of the athlete to improve flexibility.

FIG. 16 shows a training bat 180 for use in improving and athletes swingof a baseball bat. The training bat 180 may include a barrel 186, ahandle 182 and a knob 184. In this embodiment, the handle 182 tapersfrom its distal end attached to the barrel 186 toward its proximal endat the knob 184. The handle 182 may optionally be cylindrical, or mayoptionally be concave. The handle 186 may also include a texturedsurface or a coating to facilitate gripping.

The barrel 186 may include a wall 188 at its proximal end, and may havean opening 190 at its distal end. The barrel 186 may be substantiallycylindrical and may house one or more balls 192. The opening 190 mayoptionally include an interior lip 194 that extends around the entireopening 190 or may optionally extend only partially about the opening190.

During use, an operator may grip the training bat 180 by the handle 182and practice a typical baseball swing. As the bat 180 is swung,centrifugal force may be exerted upon the balls 192, shown as arrow 196,representing the vector of centrifugal force. Depending on the mannerand style of the swing, one or more balls 192 may be projected throughopening 190. The direction, force and trajectory of the balls 192 asthey exit the opening 190 may allow an athlete and/or a coach to betterunderstand the correctness of the swing and may provide guidance on howa swing may be improved.

It may be desirable for the opening 192 include a lip 194, which mayprevent a ball 192 from exiting the barrel 186, when a swing fails togenerate centrifugal force greater than a desired minimum. The lip 194may be removable and a training bat 180 may also optionally includeinterchangeable lips 194 of different sizes. Optionally the lips 194 maybe adjustable. In order to adjust the minimum force required for a ball192 to pass through the lip 194 and exit the opening 190.

The training bat 180 of FIG. 16 may be primarily intended for use intraining baseball players. However, it may be used for training athletesin a variety of sports that require a participant to swing and objects.These other sports may include crickets, tennis, golf, polo and othersports.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show training balls 200 and 220, respectively. Trainingballs 200 and 220 may be used to improve an athlete's throw or pitch ofa baseball. Training ball 200 may include a standard sized baseball 210that may have a rod 202 extending through the center of the ball 210.The ball 210 may include cuffs 212 surrounding the openings throughwhich the rod 202 extends. The cuffs 212 may reduce the frictionexperienced by the rod 202 while sliding longitudinally along axis 211.The rod 202 may include end caps 204 that may prevent the rod 202 fromsliding out of the baseball 210.

One end of the rod 202 may include a weight 208. The weight 208 may beinterchangeable with other weight of different size. The rod 202 mayalso optionally include a weight stopper 206. In this embodiment, theweight stopper 206 is an annular ring. However, the weight stopper ormay optionally be a ridge, a linchpin, a shoulder along the rod 202 orother impediments that may prevent the weight 208 from sliding along therod 202.

In use, the training ball 220 is held such that the end of the rod 202having the weight extends between the operators forefinger and indexfinger and the rod 202 is slid along the axis 211 such that the weightsubstantially abuts the ball 210. When an operator practices throwingthe ball 200, centrifugal force imparted to the weight 208 causes therod to slide through the ball until the weight 208 is at its farthestpossible position from the ball 200. By observing when and how fast therod 202 slides as a result of the motion of a practice throw, anoperator and/or a coach may be able to identify and correct andincorrect components of an athlete's throw.

FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of a training ball 220. Trainingball 220 includes a typical baseball 222 having a rod 224. Cuff 226surrounds the rod 224 at its point of attachment to the ball 222. Therod 224 also includes an endcap 228. A weight 230 may be slidablyattached to the rod 224 such that it may freely slide in the directionshown by arrow 332. The ends To 28 may optionally be removable such thatthe weight 230 may be replaced by other interchangeable weights.

During use, an operator grips the ball 220 such that the rod 224 extendsoutward between his or her forefinger and index finger. As an operatorperforms a mock throw, the weight 230 may slide along the rod 224. Aswith the training ball shown in FIG. 17, the location of an operator'shands when the weight 230 translates across the rod may be indicative ofcorrect or incorrect components of the mock throw. In addition toidentifying proper form when throwing a ball, the use of the trainingballs shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 may provide exercise to an athlete inorder to improve his or her throw.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a stance training bar 250. The stance training bar250 includes a bar 252 having a first end cap 254 and a second in the256. The second in 256 includes an adapter on its side opposite to thebar 252. The adapter 258 may have a slide rod 260 removably attached toit. The slide rod to 60 may include an endcap 262 and a weighted slider266 capable of sliding along slide rod to 60 longitudinally in thedirections of arrow 264. The sliding rod to 60 may be detached from theadapter 258 in order to replace the weighted slider 266 with analternative slider having greater or lesser weight. Other components ofthe device may optionally be detachable as well. The bar 252 and its endcaps 256 and 254 may be padded to improve comfort.

FIG. 20 shows a stance training bar 250 during use. An operator 270holds the stance training bar 250 against his or her back and in thecrux of his or her elbows. As the operator twists to mimic the motion ofa baseball batters swing, the stance training bar 250 will turn with theoperator's body. By observing the position and motion of the stance barand the sliding weight 266 during a mock swing, an operator and/or acoach may better analyze and operator's form in order to improve uponit.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to thedrawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and furthermodifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be madewithin the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of theembodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting ordefining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claimsunless such is explicitly indicated.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

1. (canceled)
 2. A training bat for improving an athlete's swingcomprising a barrel, a handle and a knob; wherein the handle has adistal ends attached to the barrel and tapers inward toward its proximalend; wherein the knob is located at the proximal end of the handle;wherein the barrel is cylindrical and has a wall at its proximal endwhere it is attached to the handle and an opening at its distal end;and, wherein the barrel houses one or more balls and its opening has aninterior lip that prevents the one or more balls from exiting theopening unless a predetermined minimum amount of centrifugal force isapplied to the ball.
 3. The training bat of claim 1 wherein the one ormore balls comprise one or more baseballs.
 4. The training bat of claim1 wherein the interior lip comprises one or more interchangeableinterior lips having different sizes for changing the predeterminedminimum amount of centrifugal force that must be applied to a ball inorder for it to exit the barrel.
 5. The training bat of claim 4 whereinthe one or more balls comprise one or more baseballs.
 6. A method forimproving a baseball batter's swing comprising: providing a training bathaving a barrel, a handle and a knob; wherein the handle has a distalends attached to the barrel and tapers inward toward its proximal end;wherein the knob is located at the proximal end of the handle; whereinthe barrel is cylindrical and has a wall at its proximal end where it isattached to the handle and an opening at its distal end; and wherein thebarrel houses one or more balls and its opening has an interior lip thatprevents the one or more balls from exiting the opening unless apredetermined minimum amount of centrifugal force is applied to theball; gripping the training bat by the handle such that the knob isproximal to the batter and the barrel is distal to the batter; swingingthe training bat to apply sufficient centrifugal force to cause one ofthe one or more balls to exit the barrel at a predetermined point in thebatter's swing; repeating the step of swinging the training bat,adjusting the form of the swing if necessary, until the batter causesthe one or more balls to exit the barrel at the predetermined point inthe swing on a substantially consistent basis.
 7. The method ofimproving an athlete's swing of claim 6 wherein the interior lip at theopening of the barrel comprises one or more interchangeable lips and themethod further includes the step of continuing to swing the training batafter an initial interior lip is replaced with an alternative interiorlip.
 8. A training ball for improving an athlete's throw comprising; astandard size baseball having a first opening and a second opening onopposite sides of the ball; a rod extending through the center of theball and having a first end protruding from the first opening and asecond end protruding from the second opening; a first end cap at thefirst end of the rod having a width sufficient to prevent it fromentering the opening from which the first end protrudes; a second endcap at the second end of the rod having a with sufficient to prevent itfrom entering the opening from which the second end protrudes; whereinthe rod slidingly translates between a first position where the firstend cap abuts the against the ball and a second position where thesecond end cap abuts against the ball.
 9. the training ball of claim 8wherein the first end further comprises a weight.
 10. the training ballof claim 9 wherein the weight comprises a plurality of interchangeableweights.